*Meeting the Medic*
"Jounin Uchiha, jounin Uchiha!" said a loud voice, trying to wake up the kunoichi in question.
Saeko tried valiantly to untangle herself from Yuuko's embrace "What?"
"An emergency arose, you are needed. The Hokage will brief you" said the porcelain mask.
The Uchiha nodded and the ANBU vanished. Yuuko sighed "The Hokage is always the ultimate cock-blocker."
"Sorry" Saeko said as she busied with her clothes.
Yuuko drew the blanket over herself "It's far from the first time this happened. By the way those guys are creepy, how do they know where everybody is?"
Saeko shrugged. She actually didn't know and Itachi was silent on the matter. "I have to go, see you when I return" the brunette said and pecked the chuunin on the lips.
Yuuko just hummed, already halfway back asleep.
The brunette chuckled and took the fastest route to the Hokage Tower. From the hustle and bustle on the streets and the position of the sun she surmised it was almost noon therefore lessening her outrage at having been woken up so early.
Having been fast-tracked in the Hokage Tower she found herself at Sarutobi's door in no time. Saeko knocked and entered the office.
"Excellent news Saeko-kun" Sarutobi immediately began, "I got a letter Shizune, Tsunade's apprentice. It seems my student has no idea she contacted me so you'll need to move fast."
Saeko's eyes lit up "That is excellent news! Wait, Tsunade doesn't know? I have to pack my armor then."
Sarutobi chuckled "That would be prudent. Shizune-chan wrote that Tsunade is stuck and needs help with those healing spells and formulas but refuses to contact Konoha."
At this the Uchiha couldn't help but gulp "You mean I have to deal with an angry sannin whose pride is hurt? Are you sure about this? I really want to live enough to have my face on the mountain."
"Afraid of a fifty-year old woman?"the elder smirked.
"Hell yes!" was the immediate reply.
The Hokage laughed and nodded "Shizune will have your back, if there is someone who can rein my student is it's her."
"Can I take someone with me?"
"I didn't think it necessary but who did you have in mind?"
Saeko hummed "Hyuuga Neji, Hokage-sama. A wonderful scout and able diplomat. And a reliable friend that would never leave me in trouble."
"Very well" Sarutobi nodded, still smiling.
The brunette smiled gratefully and stood at attention "My mission?"
"Meet with Shizune in Otafuku Gai and answer her questions without disclosing Hogwarts. If by any chance you manage to convince my student to return I'll file this as a successful S-rank mission. Oh, and don't get killed" the aged leader laid out the parameters.
Saeko nodded "As per your orders."
"Make haste" Sarutobi dismissed the girl, "Oh and your Hogwarts letter arrived, collect it when you return."
"Aye aye"
Otafuku Gai
"I found them" Neji said as he powered down his byakugan.
Saeko nodded "Good, they are still here. Let's go. Just try to remember what I told you about her."
"Be light on my feet and out of her arms reach" the Hyuuga said as one corner of his mouth shot upwards.
"Hilarious. Even Naruto said she is very abrasive, just don't get pissed" the Uchiha warned again.
Neji arched his eyebrows "Naruto knows what abrasive means?"
"I was paraphrasing"
"Ah"
The two ninja made their way to the bar their target was in. As soon as they entered both had to sigh, it was clear the slug summoner had been drinking and was in a bad mood. Her mood darkened even further when she spotted the uniforms.
Saeko thought relatively long about what to wear – she knew the classic uniform would irritate Tsunade from the start but so would her Uchiha garb. She contemplated wearing her uniform with her haori but that would seem pretentious. Finally she settled on the classic jounin uniform and hoped for the best. At least Neji tempered the fact by wearing a very nice brown and white Hyuuga robes.
"Why is Konoha sending me all these brats? First the annoying blonde and now the latest Uchiha prodigy from the looks of it. And a Hyuuga pretty boy. What do you want?" Tsunade said bluntly.
Saeko and Neji bowed slightly as was customary "Uchiha Saeko and Hyuuga Neji here to help you with the new jutsu Konoha sent."
Tsunade frowned even more, turned to her apprentice and growled "Shizuneeee?"
"I'm sorry Tsunade-sama, but we do need help" the brunette said resolutely.
The blonde folded her arms "I told you I will figure it out."
Shizune mirrored the pose "Yes you will, so I invited the originator here."
Tsunade humphed and turned to the Konoha ninja "An Uchiha and a Hyuuga? Shouldn't you two hate each other?"
"Why?" Neji said tried to say in his most surprised voice.
Saeko chuckled "Neji is my BFF."
"Hm, an Uchiha playing nice. And the only thing needed was killing half of them" the sannin said acerbically.
"Tsunade-sama" Shizune said in reproach.
The blonde humphed again "So, those jutsu of yours…"
X
"Bored?" Shizune asked the Hyuuga chuunin.
Neji inclined his head "Medicine is not my field."
"It's mine but even then I hate to work with Tsunade-sama when she is in this mood" the medic confessed.
"Saeko can handle it" the Hyuuga said resolutely.
"I sure hope so" Shizune said in a worried tone. The sound of raised voices from the inn room didn't inspire too much confidence.
"At least they are talking"
"True, I half-expected a broken jaw and us leaving the city" the brunette confessed.
Neji nodded "Saeko can be very stubborn."
Shizune chuckled.
XX
Two Days Later
"Are you sure I can't convince you to come back?" Saeko tried one more time.
"Nope"
The Uchiha looked at the medic duo pleadingly "Aren't you tired of only seeing Shizune-san at the time? And you too Shizune-san, don't you want to see your Konoha friends again?"
Tsunade arched her eyebrow in warning "I suggest you shut up."
"It was great to meet you two" Shizune smiled and bowed.
Saeko and Neji replied in kind.
"I guess" the sennin sighed, "then again the last time we got a visit from Konoha it was a pervert and a crazy brat. This brat at least drinks."
"You know, Konoha has great sake nowadays - imported from all over the Elemental Nations" Saeko tempted.
Shizune chuckled and Tsunade's mouth quirked upwards "Nope."
"Sorry, I had to try. If I brought you back Sarutobi-sama would make me Hokage on the spot" the Uchiha shrugged with a smile.
Tsunade's eyes widened in realization "Hokage? Ah, you are the Naruto's so called rival."
"For the Hat? Yes I am. It is my dream" Saeko nodded solemnly.
"Why?" the slug summoner asked honestly.
Saeko smiled "I would be the first female Kage, it would show everybody that women are equally capable as male ninja. I would also be the first Uchiha Hokage – it's just what the Clan needs after that Fukagu clusterfuck."
Tsunade just shrugged.
"Plus it's a great way to pick up chicks" Saeko winked.
"Perverts, perverts everywhere!" the blonde raised hr hands in exasperation.
Yamanaka Compound
Saeko grinned as she read the letter that had arrived from Hogwarts – besides the usual list of textbooks there was the notice she has been made quidditch captain. The envelope even contained a shiny badge. The only thing left was to schedule an appointment with Flitwick and Hooch, hold trials and voilá, Saeko-taichō leads the Ravenclaw Eagles.
The brunette sat contemplating her quidditch team as she waited for Yuuko in front of the blonde's house. The Yamanaka in question was due to arrive any minute now and Saeko was in the mood to celebrate.
It didn't take too long for Yuuko to appear. She smirked "Couldn't stay away, huh?"
"Hey, I just spent three days with a troublesome blonde and I need a blonde pick-me-up" Saeko winked. Yuuko arched her eyebrow and a motion for the Uchiha to elaborate. Saeko obliged "I had to meet with Tsunade-sama."
"Oh" the chuunin said, intrigued, "how was it?"
"Good, she doesn't hate me"
Yuuko laughed "That is good."
"Exactly" Saeko nodded solemnly, "I was thinking that perhaps we could celebrate?"
"What did you have in mind" the interrogator asked in a sultry voice.
Saeko smirked "Just unlock the door and you'll find out."
The duo tore through Yuuko's living room like a hurricane, destination: bed.
It was almost time for dinner when the kunoichi calmed down. Saeko subtly cast tempus and had to suppress a sigh since she was expected at the Uchiha Compound in a little while. She turned to tell that to Yuuko but was distracted by her smug expression "Something to say?"
"The wait was so very worth it" the blonde grinned.
Saeko chuckled "Cocky much?"
"Maybe someday if you like" Yuuko winked.
The brunette laughed "Most definitely but now I need to go, I have an Uchiha dinner."
"Pity" pouted the Yamanaka as she watched her bedmate collect her clothes. When Saeko was fixing her shuriken pouch Yuuko spoke up "Just there is no confusion – I like you, very much in fact, but we are not girlfriends, we are not exclusive."
"I know that much. I knew way before you talked about how Anko is good in bed"
"That was because I was subtly trying to suggest a threesome"
"Do continue…"
Aaand done. This marks the end of Saeko´s third year. Next is another year at Hogwarts and the arrival of a certain bespectacled horcrux.
